Undercover Duke: A Witty and Entertaining Historical Regency Romance

by Sabrina Jeffries

Overview

Bridgerton fans and readers of Madeline Hunter, Eloisa James, and Lisa Kleypas won’t want to miss this humorous and clever new love story from the historical romance legend.

“Smart, sexy historical romance…a perfectly fashioned love story rich in smoldering sexual chemistry, sharp wit, and a dash of danger.” – Booklist

“A brilliant conclusion to a fun and entertaining series.” – Romance Junkies

Along with his stepsiblings, Sheridan Wolfe, Duke of Armitage, is determined to finally solve the mysteries behind the suspicious deaths of their mother’s three husbands. Tasked with investigating a possible suspect, Sheridan finds himself in dangerous proximity to her captivating daughter, Vanessa Pryde. But still haunted by a tragically lost love, the duke is resolved to resist the attraction—and avoid any “scheming” husband-hunters. Besides, lovely Miss Pryde seems utterly smitten with a roguish London playwright . . .

Vanessa thinks a little scheming may be in order—for it’s Sheridan she truly has her sights, and her heart, set on. Her theatrical flirtation is intended only to break through his business-like demeanor and guarded emotions. And as Sheridan’s jealousy becomes aroused, the two soon find themselves propelled into a scheme of an altogether different kind, involving a pretend engagement, a secret inquiry—and a perhaps not-so-secret leap into true love . . .

“Anyone who loves romance must read Sabrina Jeffries!” —Lisa Kleypas, New York Times bestselling author

“Fans will delight in revisiting Sheridan’s large family in this heated, twisty tale of love and deception.”— Publishers Weekly

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781420148589
Publisher:	Kensington
Publication date:	05/25/2021
Series:	Duke Dynasty , #4
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	430,155
Product dimensions:	4.70(w) x 6.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Sabrina Jeffries is the New York Times bestselling author of more than fifty novels and works of short fiction (some written under the pseudonyms Deborah Martin and Deborah Nicholas). Her writing has been published in more than twenty-one languages and there are over nine million copies of her books in print. A four-time RITA® Award-finalist, Jeffries has won the Holt Medallion Award, the Maggie, and the Booksellers' Best Award. After earning her Ph.D. in English Literature from Tulane University, she chose writing over academics, and now her sexy and humorous historical romances routinely land on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. Sabrina lives in North Carolina with her husband and adult son, who has inspired her to actively champion the cause of autistic children. Visit her online at SabrinaJeffries.com.

Editorial Reviews

04/12/2021

A game of jealousy lands Vanessa Pryde in the middle of a murder investigation in Jeffries’s solid fourth Duke Dynasty Regency romance (after Who Wants to Marry a Duke). Vanessa hopes to incite the jealousy of the seemingly disinterested Sheridan Wolfe, the Duke of Armitage, by pretending to be enamored of her favorite playwright, Konrad Juncker—but her scheme backfires when Sheridan offers to help make Juncker jealous by pretending to court her. After losing his fiancée to consumption, Sheridan has closed off his heart. He refuses to give in to his desire for Vanessa, but he hopes to use their connection to investigate the murders of his mother’s three husbands, his father among them—deaths he believes Vanessa’s mother may have had a hand in. The two match wits as they struggle to keep their secrets—until a public indiscretion forces them to marry and Sheridan finally lets Vanessa in on his suspicions. There are myriad suspects and even more motives but very little evidence; the couple learns more about each other than they do about the murders, but Jeffries still manages to make the big reveal smooth and believable. Fans will delight in revisiting Sheridan’s large family in this heated, twisty tale of love and deception. Agent: Pam Ahearn, Ahearn Agency. (June)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for UNDERCOVER DUKE

“Best-selling Jeffries, whose literary brand is synonymous with smart, sexy historical romance, wraps up her Regency-set Duke Dynasty series and the investigation into a series of ducal murders that began in Project Duchess (2019) on a high note with a perfectly fashioned love story rich in smoldering sexual chemistry, sharp wit, and a dash of danger.” – Booklist

“Fans will delight in revisiting Sheridan’s large family in this heated, twisty tale of love and deception.”— Publishers Weekly

“Vanessa and Sheridan each have endearing aspect…Readers of previous books in the Duke Dynasty series will be satisfied that the mystery of the murdered husbands is finally solved.”- Kirkus Reviews
 
“I have been wanting Vanessa and Sheridan to pair up since book one. She is the perfect contrast to his stuffiness… UNDERCOVER DUKE is a brilliant conclusion to a fun and entertaining series.” – Romance Junkies

Praise for PROJECT DUCHESS

“An appealing historical romance from a fan favorite.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Riveting. . . . Complex, intense characters heat up the pages with scintillating love scenes amid the intrigue. . . . Romance fans will eagerly await the next book.”
—Publishers Weekly

Praise for THE BACHELOR

“A tautly constructed plot spiced with danger and plenty of red-hot sensuality.”  
—Booklist

“Jeffries explores the cultural mores of early Regency London to weave a tale of blackmail, spies, and a Season debut. . . .There is an overarching series mystery developing, but readers yet to pick up the previous title, Project Duchess, shouldn’t be deterred.”  
—Library Journal

From the Publisher

2021-03-20
A duke searching for a murderer finds a woman to love, but secrets and lies stand in their way.

Sheridan Wolfe, Duke of Armitage, has a large blended family due to his mother’s having been married three times. All her husbands died, and while initially each death seemed accidental, the family has since come to realize they were all murdered. Sheridan is charged with learning more about one of their suspects, and doing so means spending time around her daughter, the attractive Miss Vanessa Pryde. Sheridan has no intention of falling in love or marrying after a previous love led to heartbreak. He’s under the impression that Vanessa is infatuated with a poet, anyway. In actuality, she pines for Sheridan and only continues with her ruse of wanting another in hopes of making Sheridan jealous. As they get further caught up in deceit, their chemistry grows stronger and harder to resist. Eventually, they’ll have to work together to untangle their own truths and also solve the family’s mystery. While this is a quick, easy read, the story’s overreliance on conflict caused by lack of communication is tiresome. Vanessa and Sheridan each have endearing aspects, but their relationship can be hard to buy into. Readers of previous books in the Duke Dynasty series will be satisfied that the mystery of the murdered husbands is finally solved even though the solution proves a bit obvious and therefore underwhelming.

Fine for fans of the series but forgettable for the most part.

Kirkus Reviews